Steve Martin has responded to claims from Miriam Margolyes that he was “horrid” while on set of the hit musical Little Shop of Horrors.
What did Steve Martin say?
In a statement to The Hollywood Reporter, Martin bucked back against the claims, saying that he took “extreme caution” when it came to filming scenes with Margolyes.
“When I first read Miriam Margolyes pejorative account of our scene in Little Shop of Horrors, I was surprised. My memory is that we had a good communication as professional actors,” Martin’s statement read. “But when it is implied that I harmed her or was in some way careless about doing the stunts, I have to object. I remember taking EXTREME caution regarding the fake punch — the same caution I would use with any similar scene.”
In her recent memoir Oh Miriam!: Stories from an Extraordinary Life, Margolyes — who appeared as a Dental Nurse opposite Martin in the film — claims that Martin was “horrid” while on set on the film, and that she would actually be hit with doors by Martin while filming their scenes, which involved Martin’s dentist character slamming a door in Margolyes’ face.
Martin went on to say that they had talked on set, and she assured him that she was fine. “There was never any physical contact between her and me, accidental or otherwise, in this scene or any other we shot,” Martin said.
The director of the film, Frank Oz, also added his own statement defending Martin, saying that it was “puzzling” to hear Margolyes’ account from the film.
“I always rehearse physical actions in slow motion,” Oz said. “The scene was supposed to include a fake punch. It’s puzzling what she’s talking about. It’s not the Steve I know or anyone knows. He’s always been professional and respectful of everyone on all of my shoots.”
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